It’s time to start emptying pockets, raiding piggybanks and rummaging down the back of the sofa – because you could be sitting (literally) on a 20p worth thousands.

On Monday, TotallyMoney.com reported on an exceptionally unusual mistake that had occurred at the Royal Mint, allowing thousands of 20 pence pieces to enter circulation without a date on either side – a mistake that hadn’t occurred in over 300 years. The news came to light when collectable coin firm, the London Mint Office, offered £50 for any finders who chose to send the coin on to them.

But since then, a bidding war has erupted on auction site eBay, with some collectors willing to pay thousands of pounds to get their hands of the rare ‘mule’ coins.

Now, one lucky finder as ‘7588oliver’ has just bagged himself £8,000. The coin was listed with a starting price of £4,000 at 8pm on Monday evening. By 2pm the following day, an unidentified bidder stepped in to scoop the coin for the ‘Buy it Now’ price of £8,000.